BUS chiefs had to cut services to Kirkholt after a vehicle was attacked twice in the space of 24 hours.

A gang of boys armed with sticks and golf clubs started battering the bus when the driver stopped at the Strand.

He said some of the offenders looked to be as young as seven.

The same driver was forced to stop the bus again the following morning when another youth hurled a heavy object, thought to be a brick or a stone, at the windscreen. The cracked glass smashed within hours of the attack when the driver was forced to brake sharply on his return journey to Rochdale.

A BBC One film crew who happened to be in the area on Tuesday filmed youngsters clinging onto the back of buses which were on the move. The film was shown on national news that night, with residents complaining about the lack of police presence.

First Bus had to take one bus out of service and was forced to operate a skeleton service last Friday. Normal service has since resumed.

Police say they are hunting six boys who carried out the first attack. They were all wearing hooded tracksuit tops and aged between seven and 13.

One boy, aged about 12, was of slim build and was wearing a black baseball cap and black top.

Sergeant Andy Pilling confirmed police were ready to mount a number of operations with Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) and First Bus to target the troublemakers.

He said: "This has got to stop. If someone is throwing stones at a vehicle with the driver or passengers inside it can be extremely dangerous.

"It is absolutely lunatic because someone could be seriously injured and those responsible could be looking at a severe charge, even up to attempted murder."

Five buses have been attacked on the estate since January, many incidents involving youths lobbing stones.

Sgt Pilling said it was difficult to resolve the problem without more CCTV cameras in the area, more operators coming forward to report attacks and without enough community facilities to distract the youths.

"Across the south of Rochdale there have been eight recorded attacks on buses, so there are more attacks in Kirkholt than anywhere else. But patrols have gone into the area despite what the BBC film portrayed."

A First Bus spokesman said services are still on red alert and will be cut if the trouble continues.

He said: "The company is working very closely with the police to monitor the situation. We apologise for any inconvenience caused but our over-riding concern is the safety of our employees and customers."